The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 27 Don't Listen to Them

The atmosphere on the way back was a bit off, mainly due to the disagreement over whether or not to accept local specialty gifts.

Zhou Zhiqiang definitely couldn't accept it; he knew he had a bright future ahead of him and didn't lack those things.

There's no need to ruin your reputation over something so trivial; it's not rare at all.

As long as it's not taken right under his nose, Zhou Zhiqiang won't interfere.

But Zhou Zhiqiang came to Hongshu Township to clean up their mess. He had taken care of the matter, so it was only natural that he was in charge.

If it weren't for his contribution, Zhou Zhiqiang would have nothing to say. But he did the most work throughout the whole process and had already received the factory's food ration subsidies, which was more than enough.

As a result, Zhao Jiabao and his group clearly had reservations and dissatisfaction with Zhou Zhiqiang, and they didn't say much on the way back.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't care much. He considered business matters separate from official business at the factory, and as long as they didn't hinder him in private, that was fine.

There's no need to force a difference of opinion, especially since it's not his loss.

The next day, after arriving at the factory, Zhou Zhiqiang went to the section chief's office and reported on the matter of Hongshu Township.

"That's the problem. We'll machine that part out and have someone replace it, then everything will be fine. If things go smoothly, we can send someone to replace it tomorrow."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Section Chief Lü smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, Zhiqiang, you did a good job. Leave the part numbers here, and I'll adjust the design drawings."

"Just arrange for them to work overtime in the workshop to produce it, and you don't need to worry about the rest. I'll oversee the arrangement of the maintenance team."

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and said, "Okay, thank you for your help, Section Chief. If there's nothing else, I'll go get back to work."

"Hey, don't leave yet."

Section Chief Lü quickly said, "You've been in the countryside for three days, and today is your fourth day. Yesterday, Deputy Factory Director Liu was asking about you, as if he had something to discuss with you."

I even called Hongshu Township this afternoon. If I hadn't heard you were already back, Deputy Factory Director Liu would have sent a car to pick you up.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang asked in return, "Why are you in such a hurry? Is there news from the Second Steel Rolling Mill?"

Section Chief Lü chuckled and said, "Deputy Factory Director Liu didn't say, but he wouldn't be in such a hurry if there was no news. You should go and see Deputy Factory Director Liu."

"Today's task"

"I'll rearrange things later and distribute your tasks among them; you've done enough before, it's time for them to help you share some of the burden."

Section Chief Lü sighed and said, "Our factory is too weak. Only you, Zhiqiang, a college graduate, are worth mentioning. Zhiqiang, you will have to take on more responsibility in the future."

Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and said, "Don't worry, Section Chief. Just assign me any tasks you have. I definitely won't shirk my responsibilities."

This was also the original intention of his father-in-law, Guo Linhua: it's better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix, because the head of a chicken is more likely to achieve results.

After leaving the section chief's office, Zhou Zhiqiang headed towards Liu Fuhua's office.

After knocking twice on the door and hearing voices inside, Zhou Zhiqiang pushed the door open and went in.

"Factory manager, you wanted to see me?"

Liu Fuhua pointed at Zhou Zhiqiang and laughed, "I'm the deputy factory director, Zhiqiang. Don't call me that next time, it'll be bad if Director Zhao hears it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang smiled and said, "Factory Director, I also heard from my father-in-law that you are his good friend, so calling you that makes it sound more intimate."

"I'm making up an excuse to sound friendly so I can call you Uncle Liu in private. Lao Guo and I have been good friends for seven or eight years," Liu Fuhua laughed. He then got up and picked up the kettle to pour water. Zhou Zhiqiang stepped forward to take over the task, but Liu Fuhua pointed to the sofa and told him to sit down.

Zhou Zhiqiang had never heard his father-in-law mention the relationship between Guo Linhua and Liu Fuhua, but before he left, Guo Linhua told him to go to Liu Fuhua if he encountered any difficulties, which shows that the two had a very good relationship.

With this kind of relationship, it's not unreasonable to call him "uncle" in private.

After the water cups were brought over, Liu Fuhua sat down next to Zhou Zhiqiang and said with a smile, "Zhiqiang, things are basically settled. The two factories and the industrial university will form a new alloy process project team."

You are the team leader, Professor Zhang will be in charge of technical guidance, and the Second Steel Rolling Mill will send someone to be the deputy team leader. The location is at the Second Steel Rolling Mill.

Zhou Zhiqiang nodded after hearing this and said, "I didn't expect it to be decided so quickly. I thought the results wouldn't be out until next week."

Liu Fuhua said, "Professor Zhang is very influential, and he also persuaded some other professors and teachers at the Industrial University to highly approve of your research on new alloy processing technology."
"Oh, and there's one more thing. You'll come with me to see Director Zhao later, and we'll go to the Second Steel Rolling Mill together to finalize this."

After saying this, Liu Fuhua paused for a moment, then continued, "The leaders from the Ministry of Metallurgy will also be here, so do your best."

In terms of technical skills, no one can replace you. Even Professor Zhang isn't competing with you, let alone anyone else.

"I understand, Uncle Liu."

Liu Fuhua patted Zhou Zhiqiang on the shoulder and then called him to walk together toward the factory director's office.

The most important thing now is to facilitate the establishment of the new alloy project team. Everything else can wait. The technical department can do without Zhou Zhiqiang, but the project team cannot.

Once they develop and manufacture a new alloy, their factory will benefit, and they will be given priority when scheduling production tasks in the future.

Upon arriving at the factory director's office, Liu Fuhua knocked on the door and then pushed it open, saying, "Director, I've brought Comrade Zhiqiang with me."

Zhao Guangzheng looked up and saw Liu Fuhua and Zhou Zhiqiang. He also heard Liu Fuhua address him as "Comrade Zhiqiang".

I immediately felt that Liu Fuhua and Zhou Zhiqiang must have a good relationship, otherwise it would be quite nice if he just called him Technician Zhou.

"Sit down and talk, Comrade Fuhua. It's still a while before we head to the Second Steel Rolling Mill."

Zhao Guangzheng spoke up, then took out a document, handed it over, and continued, "Technician Zhou, take a look at this. This is the manpower and material support that the Second Steel Rolling Plant is preparing."

This is initial support. If you feel it's insufficient, we can discuss it again when we go to the second rolling mill. By the way, the new alloy's process production line experiment is also being conducted at the second rolling mill.

"Thank you, factory manager. I understand. Placing it in the second steel rolling mill is the best choice."

After taking the document, Zhou Zhiqiang laughed and said that if it were placed in their Dafeng Machinery Factory, it would be quite troublesome, as the preliminary preparation work alone would take a lot of effort.

However, the second steel rolling mill already has existing facilities; all that's needed is to modify some of the equipment and production lines.

They also provided a lot of support in terms of manpower and resources, mostly at the intermediate level or above. Zhou Zhiqiang had no complaints after reviewing it.

If he were to put all these people under his command, Zhou Zhiqiang felt that he could produce new alloy steel within two months.

It came just in time for the New Year, so I'll consider it a New Year's gift.

While Zhou Zhiqiang was looking down at the documents, Zhao Guangzheng picked up his water glass and took a few sips before speaking, seemingly as if giving a word of advice: "Technician Zhou, your promotion should be finalized before the New Year. Once you get to the Second Steel Rolling Mill, don't listen to anything they say."

"Ok?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang looked up at the factory manager, but after saying those words, he looked down again and continued looking at his water glass.

(End of this chapter)